Lak Lake tour from Buon Ma Thuot: Elephants and waterfalls

Track wild elephants and swim at a forest waterfall in one morning

A full-day tour from Buon Ma Thuot to Lak Lake combines responsible elephant viewing in a natural forest setting, a 3-kilometer hike to Bim Bip Waterfall with time to swim, and lunch featuring Mnong cuisine. The tour includes an air-conditioned vehicle, a live guide in English or Vietnamese, and hotel pickup. The elephant park ticket is paid on site.

Step-by-step itinerary

Lak Lake and Elephant Viewing Tour

• Pickup at Buon Ma Thuot
• Transfer to Lak Lake forest
• Trek forest trails to view elephants
• Learn about elephants and culture
• Move to Yang Tao Commune
• Enjoy Mnong cuisine
• Hike to Bim Bip Waterfall
• Swim and relax at waterfall
• Hike back to van
• Transfer back to Buon Ma Thuot

The experience

You leave Buon Ma Thuot at 8am and drive 45 minutes into the Central Highlands landscape toward Lak Lake. The morning is built around tracking elephants living freely in the forest: no riding, no chains. Your guide and local elephant handlers walk you through the trails, explaining elephant behavior and how the animals fit into the ecosystem and indigenous culture of the region.

At noon you move to Yang Tao Commune for a traditional Mnong lunch, then start a 3-kilometer hike to Bim Bip Waterfall. You swim and rest there for an hour before hiking back to the van. The tour ends with your transfer back to the city by 4pm, leaving your afternoon free.

The tour runs 8 hours total and includes travel insurance, bottled water, and an air-conditioned vehicle. Children from age 4 are welcome. The elephant park ticket is a separate payment made when you arrive.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle with hotel pickup.
• live guide in English or Vietnamese.
• Mnong traditional lunch.
• bottled water.
• travel insurance.
• forest elephant tracking and waterfall swim.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (9 to 90 years) · Child (4 to 8 years) · Under 4: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish and Vietnamese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Local Tours SAPA

Is this one for you?Eight hours is enough to fit the elephant trek, waterfall swim and lunch without rushing, and you're back in the city by mid-afternoon if you want to explore Buon Ma Thuot or rest before dinner.

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Vietnamese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 8 years). Under 4: they can't be included in the booking.

What exactly do you do during the elephant viewing part of the tour?

You trek through forest trails with your guide and local elephant handlers to track and observe elephants in their natural habitat. They teach you about elephant behavior, the local ecosystem, and the indigenous culture of the region. There is no riding or interaction beyond observation.

Is swimming at Bim Bip Waterfall included, or do you just look at it?

Swimming is included. You have about an hour at the waterfall to swim and rest before hiking back to the van.

How much time is left in your day after the tour ends?

The tour ends at 4pm, so you have the rest of the afternoon and evening free in Buon Ma Thuot.

What is Mnong cuisine, and is it part of the lunch?

Mnong is the traditional food of the Mnong people, an ethnic group indigenous to the Central Highlands. A traditional Mnong lunch is included in the tour and served at Yang Tao Commune.

Do you need to pay extra for the elephant park ticket?

Yes, the Elephant National Park ticket is paid on site when you arrive, separate from the tour price.